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The Valley Cats open their season tonight at The Joe, which might help shape your plans for Father’s Day weekend. Around our house, 100 percent of dads polled like homemade cookies and getting to choose the Sunday night family movie for a change. Your results may vary.

On to the headlines:

Cuomo said “serious questions” need to be answered before he would support a broad-based medicinal marijuana program like the one envisioned by the Compassionate Care Act. (TU)

The measure advanced Thursday from the Senate Finance Committee to the Rules Committee. (BN)

“We will have a final product in time for the end of this legislative session,” said Sen. Diane Savino, a key supporter of the bill. (SYR)

The East Greenbush Town Board voted unanimously Thursday to back a casino project. “We’re probably not getting elected again, any one of us,” Councilwoman Sue Mangold said. (TU)

ProPublica reports that Gov. Cuomo has raised millions through a loophole in the state’s campaign finance laws, a gap that he had pledged to close.

The state Senate passed two stand-alone Women’s Equality Agenda bills, and several GOP members took the opportunity to harangue Assembly Democrats for insisting on the 10-point omnibus. (TU)

It seems very New Yorky that the trial of an African-American Democrat who wanted to be a Republican mayor of New York City could be delayed by prosecutors’ failure to translate Yiddish conversations. (NYT)

The Albany County Board of Elections will continue to rent a building on North Russell Road at a cost of over $25,000 per month for the next five years. (TU)

The state Court of Appeals said even though Colonie Center mall security couldn’t find the stolen goods, it was clear that the woman had burglary in mind. (TU)

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The East Greenbush Town Board voted unanimously Thursday to back a casino project. “We’re probably not getting elected again, any one of us,” Councilwoman Sue Mangold said. (TU)
Therein lies one of the problems with our elected officials, holders of political office are elected to represent their constituents. In other words if the people of East Greenbush are opposed to siting a casino in their town, the elected officials should represent their supporters and vote against the casino.
Councilwoman Mangold by making this statement in effect is admitting that she knows her constituents are opposed to a casino in her town yet she and her fellow councilmen and women voted for the casino anyhow.
Leads one to wonder who got the council’s ear, the voters and residents of East Greenbush or the developers and operators who hope to place a casino in the town against the wishes of the voters. Do the council members stand to gain from this support in some way?
Sounds to me that Ms. Mangold thinks she represents the casino developers as opposed to those who voted her into office.

The Albany County Board of Elections will continue to rent a building on North Russell Road at a cost of over $25,000 per month for the next five years. (TU)
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So, this is where Matthew Clyne, chairman of the Albany County Democratic Committee and Democratic elections commissioner, spends his days. Over there on North Russell Road, no one can track his comings and goings. Plus, it’s only a short distance, a walk, actually, from Democratic headquarters on Colvin Avenue. I wonder who the owner if the building is? Whoever it might be, he has a sweetheart deal. Buys the building for $700,000 and collects $300,000 in rent per year. His/her/their overhead cannot be more than $100,000, netting a cool $200,000 of tax payer dollars to play with. I’ll wager the owner(s) not a Republican. For McCoy to attack this deal, he must be on the outs with the folks who rest and relax at Clyne’s Colvin Avenue office. Now, that is interesting.

Cuomo said Thursday that he’s willing to adjust the implementation of teacher evaluation systems throughout the state, but that he’s not in favor of a moratorium on the evaluations. (DN)
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There he goes again, trying to straddle the fence.

TU and all other media – Don’t forget to cover legislative action and Governor Cuomo’s reaction to any bills that pass on the still unresolved Mgmt Confidential pay issues. Now into its sixth year of complete disrespect, unfairness and UNEQUAL treatment – more than 9,000 M/C employees of the state who still have not received the same raises, steps and pension increases that unionized employees have received. This should be a major topic since to cover as the session winds down b/c it would be highly hypocritical for the Legislature and Governor to pass any of the Women Equality bills while leaving M/Cs with a completely UNEQUAL status. See nysomce.org for more information

According to a Pew Research Center study, voters of the two major political parties are farther apart than they have been in the last two decades — on pretty much every single issue. (WP)
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It is time to reconsider the outcome of the American Civil War (1861-1865). Even though the North (and West) won the war, the battle for the hearts and minds of southerners has never been won. They continue to do everything imaginable to undermine the North’s penchant to “do good” through government legislation in Washington. The continue to obsess about equal rights and equal opportunity for blacks, Catholics and Jews within the confines of their 13 contiguous states. This even though most of the original CSA states rely on Federal handouts in amounts larger than what they contribute to the nation’s coffers to maintain their regional economies. Perhaps, it is really the perfect moment to recreate the Confederate States of America, and send them on their way, old testament bibles and all, to a new beginning.

Wanted in Vermont: Some Republicans. (NYT)
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Vermont is the most expensive state, nationally to live in. They have the highest property taxes, the highest, per student school operating costs nationally, and provide no tax relief for their elders, taxing both social security and pensions as regular income. Economically, their pay scales are down towards the bottom of the list, and most jobs are low paying. Their real estate values are artificially high. No wonder Republicans leave the state for parts unknown when they reach retirement age. Vermont is a wonderful state to visit, and according to some, a great state to raise kids, for those who can afford it. But for the rest, especially older Republicans, the tariff is to high to stick around until the bitter end.

Don’t understand Cuomo’s statement on medical marijuana at all. What’s being proposed is very restrictive, in fact Savino went too far with the restrictions. NY should model its set-up after California or Colorado. End the prohibition now!

The assessor didn’t raise the assessment enough. Sold for $1.2M in’08, that should have been the baseline, add on the renovations and it should have been much higher. My assessment has gone up several thousands since ’08, no renovations.

“According to a Pew Research Center study, voters of the two major political parties are farther apart than they have been in the last two decades — on pretty much every single issue. (WP)”

much of which is to a slew of misinformation and outright lies. We all know the truth generally lies somewhere in between. The problem is that humans generally believe what they want to hear and dont want to believe that the side they have chosen is wrong. This goes for EVERYONE. So those that are leading the political parties tell people what they want to hear and/or use fear and misinformation/outright lies to manipulate public opinion.

‘Cuomo Has Raised Millions Through Loophole He Pledged to Close’
Of course, he was only using this loophole because the law allows it.

Governor, if you believe this is wrong and that the law needs to be changed, don’t accept the donations! Just say thank you for the donations which were made legally as if the law had already been changed, and return the rest. That is called ethics and showing leadership. Accepting excess donations is called dysfunction.

“He said Thursday on public radio’s “The Capitol Pressroom” that he’s not in favor of a moratorium on evaluations.”
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Now from the Elmira Star-Gazette copy on the teacher evaluations:
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“Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday he’s open to temporarily changing the state’s teacher-evaluation system to account for concerns about the Common Core, but said a full moratorium would be “overkill.”
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Amazing! Almost the exact words that Kuomo used in the medical marijuana article. I believe it begs the question did Kuomo get a heads up that the States top Court is about to overturn the bans and moratoriums on hydrofracking? Or does Kuomo now think that he might need to placate the land and mineral rights owners before the November election, and is going to announce the end to the whole fracking thing, and allow permitting? Two subject matters in one day, and he bothers to make almost identical statements on moratoriums being overkill. I find it hard to see that as coincidence. Curiouser and curiouser.

Reassuring isn’t it that the Governor has no idea how the property tax assessment system works. But it appears that the Westchester Coutny Executive is fully aware of how that system works. Kind of goes hand-in-hand with the fact that HUD Director Kuomo didn’t know he was about to destroy the U.S. housing market. Yeah, we want 4 more years of this genius. Astorino 2014.

“When he ran for office four years ago, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo pledged to close a loophole in the state’s campaign finance regulations allowing corporations and individuals to pour unlimited amounts of money into politics.”
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The thing they fail to mention is he didn’t mention when, now did he. I speculate he will do that when he is in lame duck status. But at least he redeems himself on the subject of real estate on one factor. He knows how to milk the developers, by getting laws and regulations passed that give them big benefits, so he can get big campaign contributions.
Astorino 2014!

Gee, I had building permits for both of the kitchen rennovations I had done, as well as a permit to build my deck. Most of my friends and I agree that a large component of the permit requirement is for taxation.
I wish Cuomo could be prosecuted for having the work done without permits. Then we would be rid of him.

Thank you Ms Mangold for putting the town ahead of your personal politics. The Rebulicans in DC could learn something from you. They continue to block actions that would benefit the country because they are afraid of losing their seat in a primary. For example, how on earth could anyone be against allowing young adults to refinance student loans to take advantage of historically low interest rates?

#6 – Do you realize that the main reason the civil war was fought was because the south became fed up with the tariffs imposed by the federal government and that the money was being spent in the north? Lincoln’s motivation for fighting the war was to preserve the “perpetual” notion of the union. If States were permitted to leave in 2014, several would. I think Texas would be first, but other southeastern states and several western states would follow. I would not put any of my money on Vermont or New Hampshire remaining either.

I find it odd that politicians worry so much about tightly regulation and controlling Med MJ, when anyone with a $20 bill can find it with very little difficulty right now. So dumb. Just regulate it like alcohol already. We all know it’s headed that way, and for good reason. Prohibition never works.

hawkny,
Vermont is an expensive place to live, but where do you get your information from that it is the most expensive state (not Hawaii?), has the highest property taxes (NJ or New Hampshire?), highest school spending (NY?). You are certainly right about the state’s lousy tax policies. And if you think it’s bad now, wait until they implement single payer healthcare.

The time is now to finally resolve the MC Pay/Pension issue. How can anyone talk about women equality when 70% of MC’s are women and we are treated differently. Not only are we mostly women but we are considered older women. Cuomo’s treatment of MC’s is a disgrace. It is hypocritical for Gov. Cuomo to say he supports women rights yet he has the audacity to treat his own group of women employees so poorly. I ask Gov. Cuomo if he would treat his own mother, sister or girlfriend so poorly. Gov. Cuomo we are only trying to make a living. We only ask to be treated the same as you treat CSEA and PEF.

@hawk: Just curious how you came up with the Civil War analogy. Having lived in Tennessee for a year, and Florida for almost 20 years, I find the attitudes in New York State, especially the urban/metro areas, towards non-white residents much more discriminatory. And those 13 States are not the only States that fall into the Red State category. The differences are not at all related to the issues that caused the Civil War. They are related to a government that thinks money grows on trees, fiscal responsibility and good governance. When you are an unrepentant alcoholic, or drug abuser, or perfectly capable of working, but choose to game the system by finding a crooked doctor that will say you are disabled, or you are a corporation that takes all the taxpayer money you can steal, then do not live up to your promises, and are not punished, everyone should be angered and demand change that stops these practices. Nobody wants to take monies away from the truly disabled, the elderly, or children, or anyone who is truly in need. One only needs to look at the charitable contributions given every year in this country to realize that fact. And the immigration issue is a political football to toss around, to keep Americans farther apart. Nobody with a lick of sense believes that we can deport 12 to 14 million people, and I for one ask regularly “where would you be if that standard were used when your family came to the U.S.?”, but I only get sheepish looks as an answer. Having lived in Florida, I have seen the work ethic of the Latino immigrants, legal and illegal, and I can tell you that they will out work most of our young citizens. That begs the question, why would you anyone not want hard working, family oriented(as many send most of their pay to family in their native country), who would gladly pay their taxes for the right to be a U.S. citizen? But the media and our great elected representatives want to keep us split on that, by only pointing out the ones who do not fall into the category I cited above, and propose programs that anger the majority of taxpayers, like the Dream Act, due to the burden on their own children, and not some created bias that adds to the rift between Americans. The government is out of control, and yet they want to spend more and more, when they should be spending less, much less, as the national deficit soars, ensuring that the future for all Americans will not be better than even our own today, but much worse. A family of four today, owns $200,000 of that national debt and climbing. They are spending money that does not exist, and mortgaging the future of all Americans. The members of the governments absolutely do not want to see all voters on the same page, and manipulate anything that will prevent that from happening. Just listen closely to their speeches and their comments on the issues. They are meant to be as inflammatory as they can be, so as to keep that disunity alive and well. It is the elected “representatives” that are so deeply entrenched that have devised that Machiavellian method to ensure their incumbency. plus those who are just so extreme and deluded that they believe their own insane rhetoric. Unfortunately the majority of Americans buy into their lies and deceptions, and contribute to the widening of the rift between themselves. It is time for Americans to wake up and realize that we are being led down the garden path by our elected officials and the myriad of extremely polarized groups who incite the people of our country, with their extreme rhetoric, as well. And it is time for Americans to find their common ground, not their differences, and start the work that can lead this country back to what it was, a place of hope, dreams and real opportunity. But it doesn’t have a darned thing to do with the issues that caused the Civil War, or just 13 States. Sorry, I cannot agree with that at all.

A couple of more points, all elected offices should be for a maximum of 8 years, 2 four year terms, to save on election costs and BS every 2 years. All political parties, action committees, PACs, lobbyists and special interest groups should be outlawed. And as far as public campaign financing, it should be 100%, no contributions, but a truly dedicated campaign finance fund, funded by a purpose designated tax. The amount spent for each and every office should be spelled out in the law, and that cap should be strictly enforced, and candidates, once nominated in primaries, all of which should take place in late May or early June, should be required by law to present a clear platform on designated issues, with their current perspective on solutions, within one week of that nomination(they shouldn’t have been in the primary if they didn’t already have one), released to their voters, through the media and by mail. Without an election system like this, we are left to be victims, who pull levers in a murky lack of real information. And the corporations and wealthy will have an advantage over the rest of the American people, and voters.

About Capitol Confidential

Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.